Multiple and transformable theater-stage



July 17, 1934.

P. ANSALDO 1,966,698 MULTIPLE AND TRANSFORMABLE THEATER STAGE Filed Dec. '7. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l l-Tg: 2-.

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MULTIPLE AND TRANSFORMABLE THEATER STAGE Filed Dec. 7. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 V? 7 7 7 7 7 IIIIIIII'IIIflIIIIII 1 1 PERICLE AN5ALDO INVENTOR ATTORN 5Y5 July 17, 1934. P. ANSALDO' MULTIPLE AND TRANSFORMABLE THEATER STAGE Filed Dec. 7. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a J INVENTOR PERICLE ANSALDO AJII 1 1| 1! BY f Q, ATTORNEYS Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATEE PATENT QFFECE MULTIPLE AND TRANSFORMABLE THEATFER- STAGE Pericle Ansaldo, Rome, Italy 4 Ciairns.

The object of the present invention is a multiple and transformable theater stage, devised in such manner that its platform may assume at will a plane course at different heights, a uniform 5 forward or backwards slope, in a continuous or discontinuous manner and capable of being transformed occasionally even in height, thus reproducing the most varied forms required by theatrical scenery.

The above said object is obtained by placing paralielly to the front of the stage a series of metallic latticeworks or bridges of equal length but of two different widths, the narrower ones a1- ternating with the wider ones. Each latticework may be lifted or lowered independently from the others by hydraulic elevators or devices of this kind, placed underneath the stage, and may be blocked at the desired height, and it is understood that the length, the width, the height and the number of the fields or pits into which each latticework may be subdivided, can vary at will as well as the number of the latticeworks. Another fundamental characteristic of the invention, besides that already mentioned, consists in that on the upper frontal edge of each secondary (narrower) latticework are linked, by means of suitable hinged supports, overlying planes revolving round the links, in such manner that they may be lifted far as to form a certain angle with the horizontal and set down on the corresponding latticework situated in front, so as to give the Whole platform of the stage a plane course with the desired slope. In this case the wider latticeworks may be momentarily placed out of service and be used as line-breakers of the inclined overlying planes after having been lifted so as to come in touch with the lower faces of the latter ones. Another manner of putting together the platform of the stage is obtained by lifting all the latticeworks up to the same level or by momentarily neglecting the narrower latticeworks and lifting to the same height the wider latticeworks; continuity is ensured, in correspondence with the narrower latticeworks by lifting the rectangular longitudinal linked wings along the upper edges of the broader latticeworks.

Each wing has a width equal to the half of the width of the narrower latticeworks so that continuity is rigorously ensured; the rotation of the said rectangular longitudinal wings around their links takes place through the rotation of an equal number of longitudinal shafts provided with toothed pinions engaging with toothed sectors revolving together with the rectangular wings and integral with the latter to which they serve as support. The rotation of these shafts is effected by means of small electric motors, applied, for instance, at one of their ends. Suitable sta tionary vertical metal guides serve to regulate the motion of latticeworks. For the covering 60 of the principal latticeworks as also with the object of permitting that the platform of the stage should be transformed in such a manner as to reproduce the most varied accidentalities, each pit or held of the principal (wider) latticeworks is provided with inner vertical C-shaped guides,

in which may slide wooden trestles with long legs perforated in different points for the introduction of locking pins bearing upon the top of the said latticeworks. On these trestles may be arranged small wooden overlying planes easily removable.

in the accompanying drawings showing scheniatically and by way of example an embodiment of the object of the invention;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the stage with its removable overlying planes arranged at various heights;

Fig. 2 shows, always in perspective View, the same stage in which, however, the platform has been transformed so as to assume a uniform inclination;

3 shows a partial side elevation of some latticeworks according to a determined manner of employment;

Fig. 4 shows a partial side elevation of the same latticeworks according to another mode of employment;

Fig. 5 isa vertical section of a main latticework with a removable trestle and Fig. 6 is the horizontal section according to line A-A of Fig. 5.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional elevation taken through one of the wider stage sections, showing the plunger of the elevator and the mechanism for operating the upper side wings.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the stage section and mechanism of Figure '7.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

As will be seen from the drawings, each principal latticework, like an ordinary bridge latticework, is formed of horizontal iron bars 1, vertical iron bars 2 and diagonal iron bars 3, joined together by suitable riveting. The secondary lat- 105 ticeworks which are narrower, are obtained in the same manner, but they are covered by a wooden overlying plane 4, extending along the whole latticework and fastened to the same. Each of these secondary latticeworks carries underneath the upper frontal edge link members 5, which serve to pivotally support wooden overlying planes 6. These overlying revolving planes 6 are especially useful When it is desired to give the platform of the stage a certain slope, as in Figs. 2 and 4, but it is also quite possible to arrange them horizontally.

On the upper edges of each principal latticework are applied link members '7, round which can rotate the toothed sectors 8 which at the upper portion support the rectangular wings 9 and which below engage with toothed pinions 10 mounted on longitudinal shafts 11, which extend along the whole latticework and which are driven by small electric motors 18 placed at their bottoms, or in correspondence with the intermediate part thereof by means of bevel or miter gears 18 meshing with corresponding gears 19 mounted on vertical shafts 22 which are also provided with worms 19' meshing in turn with worm gears 20', serving to reduce the speed. Friction transmission is introduced in the automatic stop at the end of the movement of the gear sectors by having concentrically mounted with worm gears 20 spur gears 20 which are frictionally rotated by friction contact with the worm gears, while said spur gears mesh with the pinions 10 already described as directly meshing with toothed sectors 8. The latticeworks may slide, as has been said, vertically, guided upon the vertical portions at their ends by suitable vertical and parallel guides 12 applied to the lateral sides of the stage.

Both the narrower as well as the wider lattice work sections can be independently raised or lowered by means of the hydraulic pistons 21, one or more of which can be used therewith.

;For the covering of the principal latticeworks, use is made of removable overlying wooden planes mounted on suitable wooden trestles l3 sliding within C-shaped metallic channel guides and capable of being fastened at the desired height by means of metallic pins 15, introduced into holes 16 provided in the legs 17 of the trestle (Figs. 5 and 6).

It will be understood that all the elements must be proportioned so as not to give rise to any discontinuity in the platform, whatever be its shape and in whatever manner it be obtained, and it is likewise understood that many variations may be introduced in the particulars without thereby departing from the fundamental idea of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A multiple and transformable theater-stage including the combination of a plurality of independently vertically movable stage sections of at least two different widths disposed in regularly alternated order, there being means for individually moving said sections, and retain said sections at any desired elevation, which sections are adapted to form a stepped or plane floor surface at various levels, and means providing said stage with a floor surface which is wholly or in part inclined toward the front or the rear of the stage, including a tiltable board hinged to one upper edge of each of said narrower stage sections which is adapted to bridge over the space between two adjacent narrow sections and conceal the wider stage section between when at least one of said two adjacent narrower sections is elevated above the level of said wider section.

2. A multiple and transformable theater-stage comprising the combination of a plurality of vertically movable metallic lattice-work sections, which are constructed with two different widths, the wider and the narrower sections being relatively alternately disposed and all the sections disposed parallel to the front of the stage, a tiltable board hinged to the upper frontal edge of each narrower section, adapting the other end of each of said tiltable boards to rest on the upper rear edge of the next adjacent narrower section when said narrower sections are elevated above the level of the wider section between them in order to form a stage floor which may be set uniformly or discontinuously in a position which is inclined either towards the front of the stage or in the opposite direction, and there being means for raising and lowering said sections.

3. A multiple and transformable theater-stage comprising the combination of a plurality of vertically movable metallic lattice work sections of substantially equal length but of two different widths, arranged alternately and parallel to the front of the stage, each narrower stage section having a single tiltable board hinged to one upper longitudinal edge thereof and adapted to completely bridge over the space between two adjacent narrower sections above the wider stage section therebetween when said narrower sections are elevated above the level of the said wider section, the wider stage sections in turn having swingable members or wings which are hinged to both the upper longitudinal edges thereof upon rotatable toothed sectors and of predetermined width so that two adjacent swingable members are adapted to bridge the space between the two adjacent wider sections to which they are hinged when said wider sections are elevated above the level of the narrower sections therebetween, and means for rotating said toothed sectors in order to cause said swingable members to swing upward into practically horizontal positions or downward into idle positions at will, including a pinion shaft supported along each longitudinal side of said wider stage sections and provided with at least one pinion meshing with the respectively adjacent toothed sector, there being means for driving each pinion shaft and the pinion thereon.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wider stage sections are slidably mounted in vertical guides, boards hinged to the longitudinal sides of said sections by means of swingable sectors and means to rotate said sectors and retain them at any desired position to provide the whole or part of the stage floor with an evenly inclined or stepped surface as desired.

PERICLE AN SALDO. 

